The Russian language is the main means of the Ukrainian nationalist survival

What are the interests of the West in the language policy which is carried out in Ukraine? Why the status giving of the state one to the Russian language is equally favorable neither the party in power, nor nationalists? The People's Deputy of Ukraine, the KPU fraction Evgeny Igorevich Tsarkov answers these and other questions of the Internet portal “The world and we”.

- In your opinion how the Russian-Ukrainian relations will develop, how the last political changes in Russia will be reflected in them?

I think that the policy of Russia in relation to Ukraine will change in connection with Vladimir Putin's re-election. There are the changes from Ukraine – the absence of the president Yanukovych on inauguration was the evidence to that. At the same time, from Russia rather basic statements concerning our management and in connection with Tymoshenko's case sounded from Russia. In this situation, though it happens seldom, I support the party of Ukraine to a greater extent. Because any part shouldn't dare to talk the language of ultimatums – there are no Merkel's orders, there are no Putin's orders. At the same time, we should understand that Russia is our main, priority partner. For 70 years of the Soviet power we appeared to be interconnected in all directions – from economy to mentality.

In this situation the project of the new Eurasian Union sounded by Putin is especially important. But this idea seems to me not high-grade without the corresponding ideological basis. There will be the conflicts without such basis – who is the elder brother and who is the younger. If Putin holds rather tough policy concerning Ukraine, we should understand that is necessary to keep partnership even in such conditions – not to allow to speak ultimatums, but thus to continue to build the constructive cooperation. When such cooperation existed, the gas cost 50 dollars for our country and then its price continuously grew. Ukraine is dependent on energy resources, but thus we have the high level of connectivity of the markets with Russia and other countries of the Customs Union. Therefore it is necessary to establish the foreign policy vector accurately. Our party supports that forming of the relations with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan was a geostrategic priority. The aspiration to Europe showed that we can expect from the West. Russia never afforded that democratic Europe affords. And I think that became sobering up for the Ukrainian “elite” which understood that nobody waits Ukraine there precisely. Respectively, our vector should be directed towards the Customs Union.

There is also such important factor concerning Putin's rather tough policy– the president can't be gentle in Russia. The liberals, the same Yeltsin, showed in what they turned Russia. Taking into account that the liberal idea is defective, it can ruin Russia. Therefore rigidity is necessary here. If Putin conducts the gentle policy of advances with the USA, Ukraine or Georgia it will inevitably affect the situation in the Russia taking into account its sizes and specific mentality. Therefore it is necessary to understand - any significant problems in Russia will concern both Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

- You told that the Eurasian Union won't be the high-grade without an ideological basis. What can serve such basis for integration of Ukraine, Russia and other states on the former Soviet Union?

What unites all of us? For 70 years of the USSR existence, the mentality of the people of our countries was formed in uniform space, after all we had everything the general – economy, culture, language, behavior and related communications. Thus it is necessary to look for the unifying base not only at the level of the Russian language and the humanitarian sphere, but also on economic bases. And the economy, as we know, it is the concentrated part of policy.

It is obvious that the liberal economy won't be suitable for such role. The liberal reforms in many countries of the world show that they conduct only to even bigger development of crisis. In the West many planned elements, that reflect the general turn of policy towards the left ideas and principles are entered into economy.

The consequences of the economy liberalization of the Post-Soviet countries are extremely negative. In Estonia the people live badly, despite “high-speed” European integration, in Georgia which says that made an economic miracle, an average salary about is 90 dollars, in Russia, except St. Petersburg, Moscow and the large cities, there are the same problems as in Ukraine. Therefore, unequivocally, it is necessary to pass from chaos of liberal economy to more rigid administrative and planned system. We see, as Europe does turn to the left, for example, in France. The increasing turn towards socialism will be observed in all Western world taking into account the mass discontent with liberal reforms.
I’m sure that if the economy will be initially based on international approaches, on the administrative and planned relations, it can become the fine basis for unifying processes between our countries. An example of development of such relations is the Customs Union, but the development of integration will be extremely difficult without considerable turn of policy to the left.

It is impossible to build our development in this union and without accurate geopolitical reference points. If we want to be on friendly terms with all again, it will not turn out something because the USA, for example, will advance their interests all the same. And we see it on an example of “color revolutions” which passed in the Middle East. Therefore, unequivocally, it is necessary to develop the cooperation within BRICS, bypassing the disputed zones of Europe and the USA. The aggression against Libya and a situation round Syria show that the USA and Europe will continue to pursue the tough, neocolonial policy. In this situation it is important to us to build the relations with the Middle East and South America to resist to it on the foreign policy arena.

Having considering these conditions we can create the allied association from four countries in the beginning – Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. And then other countries can join it, for example, Armenia, Azerbaijan which are already “full” with the American investments and consequences of this "help" because of what there is a change of their foreign policy vector.

- What is the attitude of KPU to the law “About principles of the state language policy”? Having considering what support Tymoshenko renders EU, is it possible to draw a conclusion that the opposition to the Russian language, which it actively carries out in connection with adoption of this law, is a lobbying of interests of the western community in Ukraine?

These are the extremely important questions. We are against what the party in power does in the sphere of language policy, because its general slogan on elections was giving the status of the state one to the Russian language. If there was no this point in their program, the Party of Regions wouldn't become the party in power. We are convinced that it is rather simple to solve this question in the presence of political will in Ukraine. There is a possibility to hold the referendum, there are also the administrative resources. But nothing is doing in this direction. As the proof I often cite Odessa as an example – there were two Russian-speaking schools at “orange” mayor Gurvits and today when the Party of Regions is in the majority both in the City Council and in the regional council and in the Verkhovna Rada, the situation didn't exchange.

On the other hand we will always support any decision connected with the improvement of the status of the Russian language. Therefore, we supported this law which though in the “cut-off” option, but after all guarantees the Russian language use in the regional status.

But we categorically against the technologies of the West according to which today the Russian language in Ukraine designated as the language of ethnic minority. According to committed politicians, more than 90 % of the Ukrainian population communicates it. Probably, it is a little overestimated figure, but that about 80 % of the population of the country use the Russian language in household and international communication is the fact. And it is really dangerous to call the language on which such large quantity of the population of Ukraine talks as the minority language.

Why the issue of the Russian language doesn’t solve? The matter is in class system and political strategies. If to clean the issue of the Russian language to bourgeois parties today, it would be nothing to show to the voters. Unfortunately, the West and EU managed to divide Ukraine into two political camps. One is named as the nationalists, the Banderovites, the second is the Russian-speaking. If today the slogans connected with this division was impossible to use, if the question of the Russian language was solved, with what to leave the nationalist Tyagnibok in Lviv, where is the nationalist majority in the City Council and the regional council?

With what to leave the white- blue in Odessa and Donetsk? The social problems are identical everywhere – the huge prices, tariffs, low standard of living. Therefore one nothing remains as to shout “збережемо мову” and another – “let's keep the language”.

But it is all the same to the ordinary Ukrainian how the word “sausage” sounds and in what language – if only it was. Therefore, of course, the politicians use this question with which it is possible to come to the voter and it will safely work and in Donetsk – “they come down our Russian language” and in Lviv – “save the language”.

I gave an example to the colleagues in the Verkhovna Rada hall – one of present white-blue officials declared that there is the Russian ethnic minority in Odessa region and offended it by that –the majority of the cities speak the Russian in Odessa. The same occurs in parliament, the country supreme legislative body – the language in parliament is only the Russian. Within the Cabinet of Ministries, I often happen to be there, everything sounds in the Russian language. Within the Presidential Administration the main language is the Russian. The same Tymoshenko uses the Russian in general communication.

Why the solution of this question is dangerous for them? Because the Russian language plays very big conciliar function. It is unprofitable to the West and many Ukrainian politicians, that this function was carried out. For example, the Bolgradsky area of Odessa region count totals 60 % of the Bulgarians, 20 % of the Gagauz people, 10 % of the Russians, 6 % of the Ukrainians, 2 % of the Albanians and 43 more nationalities. And all understand each other in the Russian language. The same occurs in Europe – in European Parliament the Frenchman and the German communicate in English which carries out the communication function. Otherwise it should to study all languages of EU.

The Russian language, especially in the Soviet times, got the same role on the one sixth part of a land and even more widely. All the one sixth knew the Russian, understood and understood it already both in China and in India and in the countries of Latin America. It was prestigious to learn the Russian language – it was on a level with English in many respects and it really threatened the West. Because by means of this language, the huge communications both in literature and cinema, on television and on radio were conducted.

When we go in a train and we meet the citizens of the former Soviet Union – for example, the Georgian, Armenian, Bulgarian and Russian go in the compartment - if we didn't know the Russian, just didn't understand each other. Because I can't learn neither Georgian, nor Armenian, there not all can be the polyglots. Respectively, they can't know neither Ukrainian, nor Belarusian.

And this very important function of the Russian language which carries a huge world role is dangerous to the western community here, has great cultural and scientific value. Besides it is one of six working languages of the United Nations. Therefore, EU and the USA never won't welcome the development of the Russian language in our country, Estonia, Georgia or Armenia. And for them it is the same important question as regional wars, as expansion of the block of NATO.

It is necessary to remember that the Russian language was widely adopted from the Middle East, Central Asia and to Ukraine in the Soviet period. Respectively, the left always has the internationalism principle, we unite. And if to remember what is such the nationalism, so it is an invention of the bourgeoisie and imperialism. They will always speak – wear the national suits, talk only your language and bear only internal culture. Because then means of communication are broken and it is favorable to them.

And today, when the child studies at Estonian or Georgian school, he can't get access to mass media in the Internet, to TV channels, musical culture without knowledge of the Russian language any more. He will be only within the national borders, namely it is necessary for the West to narrow a world outlook and cultural framework of any nation.

The same aspire to make in Ukraine. But it will not turn out to make in our country for several reasons. The Russian and Ukrainian are related. If to combine our alphabets, so it is impossible to find the distinction - it was a uniform language. There are endangered languages and absorbing languages taking into account a scientific approach to development of language groups.

For example, the English passed through huge evolution and now many modern Englishmen can't read Shakespeare in the original. The Russian during the evolution absorbs the Ukrainian and Belarusian. It isn't bad and it is not good – so it is and will be with such groups of languages. In this regard, the role of the Russian as the state for Ukraine is caused by especially objective reasons of the development of language space.

Why both the nationalists and the party in power are afraid of the solution of this issue and why the first attempt of adoption of law about the regional status of languages was broken? Including it was the order of the West. I was personally a witness that this issue was broken in parliament and it was the attack directed by both parties.

Present, if tomorrow the issue of the Russian would be solved and the issue of the introduction in the Customs Union would be solved too, so what then to do to the nationalists Paruby, Tyagnibok who will arrive to Lviv? What they will speak about except “save the language” or to propagandize their shirts? They can't explain, why the prices and tariffs are high, why the nationalist oligarchs rob the population in regional power, regional gases the same high tariffs as steal, as well as oligarchs in the Southeast and Odessa. And the present party in power acts in the same way which didn't make the life better in comparison with nationalists. And then they should come true on economic problems. And now they are courageous - will lift the balloons “Long live the Russian language!”, will stick the big boards “We will protect you!” also will stop that issue till the following elections.

- What are your forecasts of events succession on upcoming elections? What are the prospects of the main political parties? Can KPU become the leader on these elections, considering that all other political forces discredited themselves in many respects?

The possible leadership of KPU on elections is a question, first of all, of a choice of the state system. People choose the system, left system, left-wing views. For this reason the rating of the left-wing parties reads off scale in Ukraine. But on the other hand, we are the realists and we understand what are the administrative resource, political strategies and the present law of elections. Therefore we set the real purposes and we predict the second place at all levels. Certainly, if the voter understands that to change the oligarchs Vitya on Julia is ruinous for his family and the budget, so the communists will possibly have the leading position. For example, the same full France could make the left choice and supported the main slogan – to tax the oligarchs in 75 %. It means, we can have this choice.

On the other hand, it is necessary to consider the activity of the existing party in power really. Yanukovych's government allowed many mistakes, but it occurs for certain inner-party reasons. Many “double agents” work in his administration. It was proved on criminal case of Tymoshenko. He was framed up in this situation – he could be taken on a criminal episode, but was taken for political reasons. It is obvious that there was an action according the Russian language in administration – he is framed up simply. But the main danger of these actions is that they try to clean Yanukovych's regime today for coming the nationalists to power. And the major task now is to prevent their return to the power.

When Tymoshenko and Yanukovych fought on presidential election in the second round, we didn't choose for whom to vote. But we understood that in case of Tymoshenko's election the nationalists will come to power and then EU and the USA will start to head us, will import to us “the Chicago boys” and then we will precisely repeat that way on which there is Georgia or the Baltic States. Therefore, having weighed all arguments, we supported those people who could constrain “nationally competent”. But for these years the people “gorged on” and saw that the matter is not in bad Yushchenko, Tymoshenko or Yanukovych – the system is vicious and personally nobody will change something. If to choose other persons, they will simply change the flags, but the problems will remain in society.

Therefore we are sure that the break of the left forces will be observed now. It is important for the Russian-Ukrainian relations because the left support integration strategy of the development around the world, aspire to association. This is the fundamental association at level of ideologies and systems, instead of simple basis of lacking ideas. And both Putin and Lukashenko and other heads understand the importance of such association. If we won't manage to build the integration at such fundamental level, the accident will concern each Post-Soviet republic. Let's hope that the understanding of it and the left vector of development of political systems around the world will unequivocally affect the result of the elections which are coming in Ukraine.